Structure of government Constitution of Madagascar

the power of executive branch divided between president elected universal suffrage , prime minister parliament nominated his/her peers must approved president. if nominee prime minister not achieve absolute majority of support within parliament, president may choose candidate parliament serve 1 year. captured in malagasy concept ray aman-dreny (father , mother of nation), enshrined in article 44 of constitution, president serves symbol of national unity. president recognized decision maker in foreign policy , single powerful person within country. presidential decrees must countersigned, however, , president bound constitutional reality prime minister responsible functioning of government.

the president elected five-year period , limited 2 terms in office. in event no candidate wins simple majority of popular vote, run-off election held between 2 leading candidates within period of 2 months. important unwritten law regarding executive branch revolves around côtier/central highlands distinction. if côtier elected president, understood merina fill position of prime minister, , vice versa.

the constitution provides bicameral parliament composed of senate , national assembly (assembleé nationale). senate represents territorial groups , serves consultative chamber on social , economic issues. two-thirds of members chosen electoral college , remaining one-third chosen president. national assembly consists of 151 deputies elected universal suffrage in 1 ant two-member constituencies. in single-member constituencies, representatives elected simple majority, in two-member constituencies, closed party lists used, 2 seats distributed using highest averages method. both senators , deputies serve 5 years. parliament whole operates variety of classic parliamentary measures, such possibility of vote of no confidence, enable serve check on power of executive.

a new system of local governance under constitution known decentralized territorial authorities (collectivités territoriales décentralisées).

a strong, independent judiciary enshrined in 1992 constitution. eleven-member supreme court serves highest arbiter of laws of land. other judicial bodies include administrative , financial constitutional court, appeals courts, tribunals , high court of justice. creation of complex system indicates desire of framers of constitution society built upon rule of law. indeed, constitution explicitly outlines fundamental rights of individual citizens , groups (most notably freedom of speech) , guarantees existence of independent press free government control or censorship.

the creation of free , fair multiparty system centerpiece of new constitutional order.